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THE IMPACT OF DISTANCE ON WILLINGNESS TO EAT OUT: EVIDENCE FROM SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN

Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Terapan Universitas Jambi · Vol. 9 No. 4 (2025) · pp. 1391–1402

DOI
10.22437/jiituj.v9i4.43200
ISSN
2580-2259, 2580-2240
Published
2025-10-12
Publisher
LPPM Universitas Jambi
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants influencing participation in gastronomic tourism in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, focusing on the role of distance, price satisfaction, and demographic characteristics. Using data collected from 303 respondents, logistic regression and decision tree analyses were applied to assess key behavioral predictors of culinary travel. The results reveal that distance is the most significant factor influencing willingness to engage in gastronomic tourism—individuals willing to travel farther are substantially more likely to seek authentic food experiences. In contrast, satisfaction with food prices and demographic factors such as age, gender, and expenditure levels were found to be statistically insignificant. These findings highlight that logistical accessibility outweighs demographic variables in shaping tourism participation. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from an emerging destination, emphasizing the importance of mobility and access in gastronomic decision-making. Practical implications include the need for policymakers to improve transportation infrastructure, enhance culinary destination visibility, and promote authentic local food experiences. By strengthening these elements, Uzbekistan can better position itself as a prominent culinary tourism destination in Central Asia. The research also opens opportunities for future studies to explore psychological, cultural, and digital factors influencing food tourism behavior.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

12 authors · 66 co-authorship links · 19 across different organisations

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  • "Silk Road" International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage
  • State University of Makassar
  • Samarkand branch of Tashkent State University of Economics
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
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Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/index.php/JIITUJ/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">THE IMPACT OF DISTANCE ON WILLINGNESS TO EAT OUT: EVIDENCE FROM SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Makhmadieva, Charos</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Turdibekov, Khasan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Amiriddinova, Muslima</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Toyirova, Shokhista</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Yuldosheva, Latofat</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Mahmudova, Zarrina</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Abdukhamidov, Sarvar</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Makhmudova, Aziza</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Rofeeva, Rukhshona</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Vafokulova, Mekhruza</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Bakri, Rizal</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Sobirov, Bobur</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Gastronomy Tourism</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Food</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Factors</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Food Tour</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Location</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">This study investigates the determinants influencing participation in gastronomic tourism in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, focusing on the role of distance, price satisfaction, and demographic characteristics. Using data collected from 303 respondents, logistic regression and decision tree analyses were applied to assess key behavioral predictors of culinary travel. The results reveal that distance is the most significant factor influencing willingness to engage in gastronomic tourism—individuals willing to travel farther are substantially more likely to seek authentic food experiences. In contrast, satisfaction with food prices and demographic factors such as age, gender, and expenditure levels were found to be statistically insignificant. These findings highlight that logistical accessibility outweighs demographic variables in shaping tourism participation. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from an emerging destination, emphasizing the importance of mobility and access in gastronomic decision-making. Practical implications include the need for policymakers to improve transportation infrastructure, enhance culinary destination visibility, and promote authentic local food experiences. By strengthening these elements, Uzbekistan can better position itself as a prominent culinary tourism destination in Central Asia. The research also opens opportunities for future studies to explore psychological, cultural, and digital factors influencing food tourism behavior.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">LPPM Universitas Jambi</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-10-12</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/JIITUJ/article/view/43200</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.22437/jiituj.v9i4.43200</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Terapan Universitas Jambi; Vol. 9 No. 4 (2025): Volume 9, Nomor 4, December 2025; 1391-1402</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2580-2259</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2580-2240</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/JIITUJ/article/view/43200/22276</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Charos Makhmadieva, Khasan Turdibekov, Muslima Amiriddinova, Shokhista Toyirova, Latofat Yuldosheva, Zarrina Mahmudova, Sarvar Abdukhamidov, Aziza Makhmudova, Rukhshona Rofeeva, Mekhruza Vafokulova, Rizal Bakri, Bobur Sobirov</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
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